Magherafelt Area Plan 2015Settlements: Magherafelt Transportation

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Magherafelt is situated on the A31 trunk road and approximately 1.6 kilometres from the A6, the strategic route between Belfast and Londonderry. A major road scheme to upgrade the A6 between the end of the M22 motorway at Randalstown and the A31 at Castledawson to dual carriageway standard will further enhance this strategic route, providing a safer network with more reliable journey times.

The implementation of the proposed A6 upgrade is being brought forward through the Roads Service statutory process. Following a public inquiry the route as shown on the Plan Map No 1, Countryside, for information purposes, was confirmed by Direction Order which came into effect on 7th May 2011.

The A31 is also part of the east-west route north of Lough Neagh linking the west of the Province with the A6 and the major urban areas in the east. Consequently, the road system within the town carries a high proportion of through traffic in addition to locally generated traffic.

In the town centre, the local network converges on the junctions at The Diamond. As a result, Broad Street, Market Street, Queen Street and Rainey Street as well as Union Road and Church Street each carry high volumes of traffic. On-street parking and the limited capacity of the main junctions in the town to deal with traffic exacerbate the situation. The results are congestion, particularly at peak times, conflict with pedestrians, degradation of the environment and a diminished attractiveness of the town centre as a shopping destination.

Six off street car parking areas, two of which are privately controlled, serve the town centre and in addition there is a considerable amount of on-street parking.

A31 Magherafelt Bypass

The Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan 2015 (RSTN TP) provides for the provision of a bypass to the town of Magherafelt in order to relieve traffic congestion on the A31 trunk route which currently passes through the town centre. The proposal is further supported by the Investment Delivery Plan (IDP) for Roads, published in 2008.

This proposal is being taken forward through the Roads Service statutory process. Following a public inquiry the route as shown on the Plan Map No 5 Magherafelt, was confirmed by Direction Order which came into effect on 25th October 2010.Timing of construction will be dependent on availability of finance.

This new road will bypass the town to the east. It will extend from the A31 Moneymore Road to the south of the town, to the A6 at Castledawson Roundabout to the north, thus providing an alternative route for strategic traffic. The Line as shown on Map No 5 is shown for information purposes only.